Hydrangea plant named &#39;LC NO7&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘LC NO7’, characterized by its medium size and broadly upright plant habit; freely branching habit with strong lateral branches; freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a long period time; dense and hardy inflorescences with white-colored sterile flowers that age attractively to greyed purple in color with development; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea paniculata.

Cultivar denomination: ‘LC NO7’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Hydrangea Plants

Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Provisional application Ser. No.: 62/765,663

Filed: Sep. 7, 2018

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘LC NO2’

Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

Title: Hydrangea Plant Named ‘LC NO5’

Applicant: Alex Frederick Schoemaker

Filed: Concurrently with the instant application

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea paniculata, commercially referred to as a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘LC NO7’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hydrangea plants with uniform plant habit and attractive inflorescences.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from an open-pollination in July, 2013 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Hydrangea paniculata as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands during the summer of 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative tip cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands since the summer of 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘LC NO7’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘LC NO7’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Medium in size and broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit with strong lateral branches.     -   3. Freely flowering habit with plants remaining in flower for a         long period time.     -   4. Dense and hardy inflorescences with white-colored sterile         flowers that age attractively to greyed purple in color with         development.     -   5. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Limelight’ . Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Limelight’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are smaller         than sterile flowers of plants of ‘Limelight’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Limelight’ differ in sterile         flower color as sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea         are white in color becoming greyed purple with development         whereas sterile flowers of plants of ‘Limelight’ are light green         in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO2’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘LC NO2’ in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are taller and broader than plants of ‘LC NO2’. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of ‘LC NO2’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO5’, disclosed in a U.S. Plant Patent application filed concurrently. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘LC NO5’ in plant habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are taller and broader than plants of ‘LC NO5’. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of ‘LC NO5’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Jane’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,330. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Jane’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Leaf margins of plants of the new Hydrangea are more serrated         than leaf margins of plants of ‘Jane’.     -   2. Leaf apices of plants of the new Hydrangea are more pointed         than leaf apices of plants of ‘Jane’.     -   3. Leaves of plants of the new Hydrangea are matte in luster         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Jane’ are glossy.     -   4. Sterile flowers of plants of the new Hydrangea are white in         color becoming greyed purple in color with development whereas         sterile flowers of plants of ‘Jane’ are light green in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘LC NO7’.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘LC NO7’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late summer in 20-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 16° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from about averaged 5° C. to 16° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were pinched one time and were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. As a Hardy or Panicled Hydrangea, plants of the new Hydrangea are typically not treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea paniculata ‘LC NO7’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hydrangea paniculata ‘Limelight’,             disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,874.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Hydrangea             paniculata, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative tip cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 20 days at             temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 50 days             at temperatures about 16° C. to 30° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             light brown in color, actual color of the roots is dependent             on substrate composition, water quality, fertilizer type and             formulation, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Medium-sized, broadly upright plant             habit; overall plant shape, obovate to broadly obovate;             strong and sturdy stems; moderately vigorous to vigorous             growth habit and moderate to rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 74.8 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 71 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit, about 16 lateral             branches develop per plant; pinching will enhance lateral             branch development.         -   Length.—About 52.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Texture.—When developing, densely pubescent; fully             developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 40° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing: Close to a blend of N148D and 151D;             surfaces exposed to sunlight are tinged with close to 182C             to 182D. Developed: Close to a blend of N199B and 200C; when             woody, close to N199B to N199C and 200D.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse; only observed on developed             stems. Size, developed stems: About 1.5 mm by 0.75 mm.             Color, developed stems: Close to 173D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 8 cm.         -   Width.—About 4 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Moderately pubescent,             scabrous; slightly rugose.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to between 145A and             147D. Fully developed leaves, upper surface: Close to             between 143A and 144A; venation, close to 152B. Fully             developed leaves, lower surface: Close to between 146D and             147C; venation, close to 195B to 195C proximally tinged with             close to 182C.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 182B; margins, close to 183B. Color, lower             surface: Close to 153D tinged with close to 182C to 182D. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on terminal panicles;             panicles broadly ovate in shape; sterile flowers face             upright to outwardly and slightly drooping depending on             their position in the inflorescence; fertile flowers face             mostly upright.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet and pleasant.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering begins in the midsummer             and is continuous until late summer in Northern Europe.         -   Flower longevity.—Sterile flowers last about six weeks on             the plant, sterile flowers persistent; fertile flowers last             about five days on the plant, fertile flowers not             persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 400             sterile flowers and about 140 fertile flowers per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 13.9 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 12.8 cm.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About             1 cm. Shape: Cup-shaped. Color: Close to 157C.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             2 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to NN155D; towards the             apex, close to N66C; immature calyx, close to 155A.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 8 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four in a             single whorl. Length: About 2.5 mm. Width: About 1.5 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D; towards the apex, tinged             with close to 68B; color does not change with development.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 1.75 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and fully             opened, upper surface: Close to NN155D; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to NN155D; towards the apex, slightly             tinged with close to 68B; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Typically             four, occasionally three, in a single whorl. Length: About             1.35 cm. Width: About 8 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic.             Apex: Rounded to emarginate. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to NN155B; color becoming closer to 185C             with development.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a             single whorl. Length: About 1 mm. Width: About 1 mm. Shape:             Near deltoid. Apex: Broadly acuminate. Base: Broadly             cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 155C; color does not             change with development. When opening and fully opened,             lower surface: Close to 155C; color does not change with             development.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 60°             from branch axis. Texture and luster: Sparsely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to NN155B.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter:             About 0.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 10°             from branch axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 155C.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 2.5 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 155A. Pistils: To             date, pistil development on sterile flowers of the new             Hydrangea has not been observed.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155D. Anther length: About 0.5 mm. Anther             shape: Broadly oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 156A. Pistils:             Pistil quantity per flower: Typically three, occasionally             two. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped.             Stigma color: Close to 155C. Style length: About 0.5 mm.             Style color: Close to 155C. Ovary color: Close to 157A.         -   Seeds.—To date, seed production has not been observed on             plants of the new Hydrangea. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, under commercial production     conditions, plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be     resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been observed     have good garden performance and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness     Zones 5 through 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘LC NO7’ as illustrated and described. 